Method of constructing reinforced concrete floors and beams



Dec. 17, 1957 H. c. MARTIN METHOD oF CONSTRUCTING REINEoRcED CONCRETE FLooRs AND BEAMS A TTORNE Y Dec. 17, 1957 H. C. MARTIN METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING REINF'ORCED CONCRETE FLOORS AND BEAMS 3 SheeLS-Shee'l'I 2 Filed Feb. l0. 1954 INVENToR. HOWARD v(I. MARTIN AT TORNEY H. C. MARTIN Dec. 17, 1957 METHOD OF' CONSTRUCTING REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS AND BEAMS Filed Feb. l

INVENTOR. HOWARD C.MART|N BY @wml C Arron/vn United States Patent 'O lVlETHOD OF CONSTRUCTING REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS AND BEAMS This invention relates to reinforced concrete beams and related structures.

A preliminary beam is formed by the use of light forms andy light shoring sufficient only to form and surround the reinforcing steel with concrete, this comprising only that much of the beam as constitutes the tensile component of the beam.

The compression component of the temporary beam comprises light, hollow blocks laid in close juxtaposition on the concrete. Temporary beams thus formed constitute the supporting structure for carrying the forms for forming the complete beam and the floor slab, if the lioor slab be poured concrete.

Further details and the nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to the following description of one illustrative construction embodying the invention and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section showing the preliminary beam, the light forms and shoring, and the light weight hollow block comprising the compression component of the beam;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar respectively to Figs. l

and 2 and showing the temporary beam carrying the poured structure, including .a poured floor slab, the forms for forming the latter having been removed; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but in sectional perspective, showing the manner of supporting the forms for the final beam from and by the temporary beam; and

Fig. 6 is a View similar to that of Fig. 3 showing the use o'f an interior or exterior masonry wall above the beam to carry the compression which ordinarily would be carried by the concrete comprising the upper chord of the beam.

Reinforced concrete for buildings and particularly small buildings such as residences has heretofore been expensive because of the high forming costs. Unlike industrial buildings, the forms are generally special, being specially made for the job, and cannot be used eifectively or efficiently in a second building.

Referring to the illustrative structure, the reinforcing steel 10 which carries the tensile stresses in the complete'dlstructure, isy used to carry a large part of the load imposed in forming and pouring the complete structure. The reinforcing is first stabilized by enclosing it in concrete 11 whose depth is only a fraction of that of the final beam. Forms 12 for forming this concrete are similarly shallow and are supported by light shoring 13 which would usually be insuicient to carry the load of the entire structure if poured according to conventional practice. If desired the shoring may be adjusted to give the bottom planks of the forms 12 sufficient camber to compensate for the usual deflection of the structure upon removal of the shoring and forms.

The concrete 11 extends to the abutments or columns 14 supporting the beam and serves to anchor or assist Ice in-anchoring the tensile steel in the abutment or yother supporting structure.' Upon'this concrete while `it is'lwe't is placed a series of light hollow blocks 15 and ldwith their lfacestin contact. The blocks are preferably cinder block or block made from some light but strong aggregate such as porousy blast furnace slag, porous fired clay etc., that assume and transmit compressive stress in the upper portion of the beam. The block may be the standard 8x8xl6 block or half block. The block should preferably be arranged so that some of the core spaces ex* tend verticallypas in the case of blocks 15; and others extend horizontally transverselyv ofthe beam, as islthe case with blocks 16.' Blocks 15 should particularly be placed to receive reinforcement 17 for shear whichex tends upwardly from the lower chord of the beam. Such reinforcement for shear generally is located near the supporting columns or abutments where shear stresses are the greatest.' The lconcrete poured in forming the final beam (and oor slab if any) enters the vertical core spaces of the blocks 1S to surround and embed the shear reinforcement 17 and` to form an integral connection between the'tensile and compressive components ofthe beam. t. i l

The horizontally disposed core spaces of blocks 16 serve toreceive and-support form-material (shown in dotted lines` at 18, Figs. 1 and 3) for carrying the forms 19 and 20 for forming the final beam and poured lloor if any. The form supporting material 18 need not be specially cut but may comprise available pieces of wood or the like which are inserted through the core spaces of blocks 16 and projectat both sides to support they forms'19 and 20 (seeFig.l 5). For example, theform supporting material may comprise wood 2X4s of various lengths placed on. edge. They may be overlapped when too long (as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5) to avoid cutting, thus preserving them for further use. The horizontal core spaces also may later .serve as passages for pipes, wires etc. A

Before pouring the concrete for the final beam and oom' slab such reinforcement as may be required in the upper chord of the beam and in the floor slab, is placed.

In the event the beam need to be the deeper than the -depth of the 8x8x16 inch block, large block may be used or other block may be superposed on one another to the depth'required, with the vertical core spaces in register with those of the subjacent block.

When a concrete floor 21 is to be poured simultane-` ously with' the pouring of the completed beam structure the form material 20 for the floor slab is also supported bythe transverse members 18 passing through the hori zontal cores of the block. Form material 20 may c omprise sheeting, corrugated iron or water proofed pl wood and may be re-used later.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a construction which occursvv where masonry walls are located above and in alignment with the beam. ln such cases the concrete 21 comprising the floor and yupper portion of the beam (as-in Fig. 3) is omitted and the compression ordinarily assumed'by such concreteisgcarried by the masonry wall 22. nThe" wall .actsl as an arch in carrying the compression. Preferably the vertical core spaces in blocks 1S are partly filled with concrete to anchor the block and those containing the shear reinforcing 17 are completely filled.

For large floor areas, that is where Ithe span is substantial in two directions at right angles to each other, it is preferable to run between the main beams and -at right angles thereto, a series of smaller beams supported by the larger beams. The small beams may be advantageously about four feet apart to permit the use of four foot ply wood as forms for the iloor slab.

When `the concrete has set and cured suiciently, the;

aforesaid `form structures may be removed Yand used Velsel where.

For long spans it may bev-desirable to arch the temporary beams sothat-afportionl of'lthestress (ordinarily i11-the form"of-tensilestrengthand carried'by therein-f forcing) may be'carried in compression.='

building structure. Even though beam depths and widths vary they may be readily constructed with standard block and without recourse yto specially made block.` Reinforcingmay be varied in amount and locationdepending on' design and withoutdeparting from the invention. For example,with continuous beamstwhich extend over severalcolumns orsupports and wherein the upper portion ofthe beam is in tensionin the'reg'ion of the support) the reinforcing is placed according to standard practice employed in conventional beams, and again-without departing from' the invention; Moreover, it is not indispensable Vthat all'features of the invention be used conjointly since various' features may be used to advantage indifferent combinations andsub-combinations.

Having described my invention, I cla-im:

l. The method of forming in situ a reenforced concrete beamextending from onebeamsupport to the next which4v comprises erectinglight vshoring and forms between said beam'supports to form yand carry the lower chord of the beam, said shoring and'forms being insufcient'to form and carry the completed beam, placing reenforcing tensile members in said formsextending from on'ebeam support to the next, pouring concrete in said forms to surround said reenforcing thereby to form said lower chord, then placing a` series of light weight blocks having open cores therein in juxtaposition on and extending the length of said lower chord, said blocks being constructed' and arranged to transmit compression inthe upperpor'tio'nof said beam, certain of the blocks being placed with' their vopen cores extending transversely of said beam, placing form supporting members in said transverse'open cores, placing and supporting forms to complete-said beam"on said supporting members, then pouring concrete to complete said 'beam in the latter forms, and then removing said forms and supporting members.

2. The method ofmaking a reenforced concrete beam or'thelike in situ extending' from one beam support to the next'which comprises erecting a light form for forming the lower chord of the beam, shoring the said form with' light shoring insutcient to support the weight of the completed beam, placing reenforcing steel tensile members in said form extending from one beam supportto the next and also steel which projects upwardly for reenforcing against shear, pouring concrete in said fornitov surround said tensile members to form a temporary beam of less depth than the final beam, placing on' said temporary concrete beam and extending longi tudinally thereof blocks having open core spaces therein, said blocksbeing juxtaposed to transmit compressive stress in the completed beam, certain of `said blocks' being placed with cores extending vertically to receive the upwardly extending shear reenforcing, others `of said blocks being placed with' cores extending transversely of the beam, then inserting form supporting members in said beam, and then removing said forms after the concrete has set.

3. The method of forming a reenforced concrete beam extending from one beam support to the next which comprises construct-ing a light form for formingthe lower chord of the beam of less depth than the final beam. placing reenforcing steel tensile members in said form, pouring concrete in said form to surround said tensile members, shoring the said lower chord with light shoring insumcient to support a complete beam, placing on sa-id concrete longitudinally of said beam blocks having opencore spaces therein, said blocks being juxtaposed to transmit compression in the beam, placing certain of .said blocks with the cores extending vertically, placing upwardly extending shearV reenforcin'g `in said vertically extending cores, placing other of said blocks' with the cores extending transversely of the beam, and then inserting supporting members into said transversely extending cores', `placing on -said members forms' to complete the/beamfand flooring supported by the beam, then pouring concrete in the latter forms and filling said vertical cores to surround-the shear reenforcing therein to cornplete the beam, and then after the concrete has set removing sa-id forms and supportin'gmembers.

4. The method of forming a reenforced concrete beam ,extending from one beam support to the next which comprises constructing a light form for forming the lower chord 'of the beam, placing reenforcing steel tensile members in said form and also the steel which projects upwardly for reenforcing against shear, pouring concrete in said form to surround said tensile members, shoring the said 'lower chord with light shoring insuflicient to support a complete beam, placing on said concrete longi# tudirially of said beam light weight blocks having open core spaces therein, said blocks being juxtaposed to transmit: compression in the completed beam, placing certain blocks with the cores extending vertically to receive the upwardly extending shear reenforcing, placing' other blocks" with cores extending transversely of the beam, then inserting form supporting members into said transverse cores and placing andsupporting thereon the forms for completing the beam, then pouring concrete in Ithe latter formsto till said vertical cores and surround the she'ar reenforcing therein, and then removing said forms and supporting members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,040,732 Foster May 12, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 114,253 Great Britain Mar. 28, 1919 670,694 France Aug. 24, 1929 721,920 France Dec.'23, 1931 396,569 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1933A 435,910 Great Britain Oct. 1, 1935 1,023,753 rFrance Dec. 30, 1952 

